Congressman Lewis to Hold Voting Forum

U.S. Congressman John Lewis will host a voting forum Mon., Aug. 8, to discuss nationwide challenges to the Voting Rights Act, a landmark law passed by former President Lyndon Johnson in 1965 to outlaw voting discrimination, especially against African-Americans.

The forum, entitled "Redistricting and the Continued Relevance of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act," will highlight the effects of present and upcoming proposals that impede fair access to the ballot box. It is 6 to 8 p.m. at Ebenezer Baptist Church, 407 Auburn Ave.

Questionable practices in Georgia include malfunctioning voting machines, disenfranchising identification laws, along with thousands of unreasonable and improper citizenship checks during the 2010 elections. 

Questionable practices abound outside Georgia as well. 

According to Lewis, legislators are currently introducing 37 bills in 15 other states to further impede the right to vote. 

Of particular concern are efforts to circumvent Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, which requires the United States Department of Justice to “preclear” all attempts to change voting qualifications, standards, practices, or procedures. Some legislators and political actions groups are already developing redistricting strategies to submit directly to courts for review instead of the Justice Department. 

Excluding the Jusice Department could—depending on judicial interpretations—eliminate legal safeguards.

“The vote is the most powerful tool we have in a democratic society,” Lewis said in a news releases about the forum. “We should be widening access to the ballot box, making it easy and simple for all citizens to participate in the democratic process, instead of trying to stand in their way.”

For more information about the forum, call Representative Lewis' office at 404-659-0116.